Gas burner



A. J. BURKLIN May 28, 1963 GAS BURNER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 8, 1960 INVENTOR. .Wdolf J. Burkun BY May 28, 1963 J. BURKLlN 3,091,284

GAS BURNER Filed March 8, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 40 i i 45 t 44 47 ii 5 45 A P: fi 3/ r f :La I 44 fl 30 26 i "I I' IHI" w' h 211.11 26 L -II-v- INVEN TOR.

O't'forneqs United States Patent 3,091,284 GAS BURNER Adolf J. Burklin, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to A. O. Smith Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 8, 1960, Ser. No. 13,599 Claims. (Cl. 158-406) This invention is directed to a gas burner adapted for use with fluid heaters and boilers.

The burner of the invention includes a circular mani fold having a series of gas outlets or spuds located in spaced relation on the upper surface of the manifold. A pair of concentric rings are mounted slightly above the manifold in a manner whereby the annular chamber formed between the concentric rings is in vertical alignment with the row of gas outlets. The burner has been found to give best results when the height and width of the chamber are in a ratio of approximately 7 to 1. The

space between the manifold and concentric rings acts as the primary air intake while the annular chamber serves to mix the air and gas. The upper ends of the concentric rings form a flame ignition port.

In certain instances where a higher BTU input and port load increase is desired, a corrugated metal sheet may be disposed within the annular chamber in a manner whereby the passages formed by the corrugation and the concentric rings are vertically aligned with the spuds in the manifold. The addition of the corrugated strip will permit an increase in the maximum width of the annular chamber obtainable without incurring the danger of flashback at the spuds. Flashback normally is caused by a turbulence in the mixing chamber of the unguided gases when the width of the annular chamber exceeds of an inch.

The burner may be constructed in a circular or in-line shape. The latter shape will permit higher BTU input rating than the former for a given external width of the unit. By using the in-line burner shape, a commercially practical heater having a high input rating can be constructed since the narrow width of such a heater enables it to pass through a standard size doorway.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the following description.

The drawings furnished herewith illustrate the best modes presently contemplated of carrying out the invention as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a circular form of gas burner constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a circular form of gas burner with parts broken away showing a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view with parts broken away showing the FIG. 3 modification of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of an in-line form of gas burner constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

As is best observed in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the burner includes a generally circular gas manifold 1 which acts both in the capacity of gas supplier and base of the burner structure. The manifold is provided with a central spoked frame 2.

Gas is supplied to the manifold 1 through an inlet passage 3 and is discharged through a series of spaced holes 4 formed in the generally flat upper surface or 3,091,284 Patented May 28, 1963 seat 5 of the manifold. A plurality of nozzles 6 are threaded into holes 4 and the heads 7 of the nozzles project a distance above seat 5, as shown in FIG. 2, and act as gas discharge spuds.

A cup-like member 8 is supported above the manifold by a plurality of screws 9 which are threaded into suitable openings in the bottom of member 8 and rest on seat 5. The screws 9 act to establish and maintain the bottom surface of member 8 in parallel alignment with manifold 1 and at a determined distance thereabove. A bolt 10 extends through the central portion of frame 2. Bolt 10 acts with screws 9 to maintain the desired horizontal and vertical alignment of member 8 with respect to manifold 1.

A plurality of openings 11 are disposed in the UULLUuI. of member 8 and are spaced substantially inside the inner circumference of gas manifold 1. Openings 11 act to maintain a continuous upward flow of secondary air through cup-like member 8 to insure complete combustion at the flame ignition port.

The wall 12 of member 8 is in vertical alignment with seat 5 and the outermost surface of wall 12 is spaced radially inward of the ring formed by the circumferentially spaced burner nozzles 6 on seat 5. The uppermost peripheral edge 13 of member 8 is outwardly flared to direct the course and shape of the burner flame.

An elongated ring 14 is spaced radially outwardly of wall 12 of member 8 providing an annular mixing chamber 15 therebetween. The annular chamber 15 is located in vertical alignment with the ring formed by the nozzles 6. To give the best burning characteristics, the height and width of annular chamber 15 are preferred to be in a ratio of approximately 7 to 1.

The lower peripheral edge 16 of ring 14 is outwardly flared and the upper peripheral edge 17 of the ring is also flared outwardly and is generally in parallel alignment with the flared edge 13 of wall 12 and together with the wall acts to form the flame ignition point or loading port 18. The angle and radius of the flared edges 13 and 17 is determinative of the shape of the flame.

To vary the spacing of loading port 18 and to maintain the alignment and spacing between member 8 and ring 14, the ring is formed with spaced, vertical slots 19 and a plurality of bolts 20 are disposed in slots 19 and extend through aligned openings in the wall 12 of member 8. Spacers 21 are carried by the bolts 20 and are disposed between wall 12 and ring 14 and act to seal slots 19 and to maintain the radial spacing of these members.

The annular chamber 15 constitutes a mixing chamber for the combustible gas and air. As seen in FIG. 2, the mixing chamber i disposed vertically above the ring formed by the plurality of gas discharge nozzles 6 and the space 22 between the bottom of chamber 15 and seat 5 is the primary air intake.

Gas is discharged from spuds 6 and unites at primary air intake 22 with air, and both pass into annular mixing chamber 15. The gas and air mixture is ejected at loading port 18 where ignition takes place.

Under conditions requiring a greater rate of input such as would necessitate a space between wall 12 of member 8 and ring 14 in excess of approximately of an inch, it has been found desirable to employ a corrugated member 23 within chamber 15. This, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, assures that sufficient air and gas is fed into the loading port 18 and avoid backflash of the flame at nozzles 6 due to mixing chamber turbulence caused by the unguided mixing of gases.

As may be best seen in FIG. 4, the corrugated member 23 is vertically disposed within chamber 15 whereby a series of vertical passages 24 are formed by each corrugation with either the wall 12 or the ring 14. Each passage 24 is disposed directly above a gas discharge spud 6. A plurality of elongated non-functioning tubes 25 are secured to seat and extend upwardly into engagement with the lower edge of corrugated member 23. The tubes 25 act to properly align each passage 24 above the respective spud 6.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate an in-line modification of the previously described circular burner. This in-line embodiment of the burner includes a generally straight gas manifold 26 having an inlet opening 27 and having two rows of spaced outlets 28 formed in the generally flat upper surface or seat 29 of the manifold. A plurality of discharge nozzles 30 are threaded into outlets 28 and the heads 31 of the nozzles project a distance above seat 29 and act as discharge jets.

Plate-s 32, 33, 34 and 35 are disposed vertically above the seat 29 with the lower portions of the inner plates 33 and 34 disposed in contact and the outer plates 32 and 35 spaced from the respective inner plates to provide longitudinal chambers 36 and 3 7 which are vertically aligned above each row of nozzles. It has been found that to obtain best results with the burner, the height and width of chambers 36 and 37 should be in the approximate ratio of 7 to 1. The upper portion of inner plates 33 and 34 are formed with opposed outwardly flared peripheral edges 38 and 39. The outer plates 32 and 35 are formedwith opposed outwardly flared peripheral edges 40 and 41 generally parallel to edges 38 and 39, respectively, thereby forming flame ignition slots or loading ports 42 and 43.

A pair of end plates 44 and 45, flanged at the bottom, are secured to the end edges of plates 32, 33, 34 and 35. The parallel walls of flanged end plates 44 and 45 act to enclose the end of the chambers 36 and 37. The flanged lower edge-s of the plates also act to establish and maintain the bottom surfaces of the plates 32, 33, 34 and 35 in parallel alignment with manifold 26 and at a determined distance thereabove.

In order to vary the spacing of loading ports 42 and 43 and to maintain the alignment and spacing between these outer plates and inner plates, a plurality of slots 46 are formed in outer plates 32 and 35' and a plurality of bolts 47 are disposed in the slot and extend through spacers 48, which act to seal slots 46, and through aligned openings in the inner plates. As in the case of the circular burner, the angle and radius of the flared edges 38, 39, 40 and 41 is determinative of the shape of the flame.

The chambers 36 and 37 constitute a mixing chamber for the combustible gas and air. As is seen in FIG. 6, the mixing chambers are disposed vertically above the rowsformed by the plurality of gas discharge nozzles 30 and the space 49 between the bottom of the chambers and seat 29 is the primary air intake. The functions of the elements in'the in-line burner are similar to that previously described relative to the circular form of burner. Under conditions requiring a greater rate of input such as'would necessitate increasing the width of chambers 36 and 37 in excess of approximately 75 of an inch, it has been found desirable to employ a corrugated member in each of the chambers, similar to corrugated member 23 of the 'first embodiment, to form vertical passages above the spuds, thereby minimizing the gas turbulence effects found in a large single chamber.

In both the circular and in-line embodiments of the invention, ,when the burner is in use with the supply of gas in the manifold open, the gas will pass upwardly through the discharge spuds. At the primary air intake, the gas unites with airand passes into the mixing chamber. The gas and air mixture then passes through the loading port and is ignited at its extremity. The area and angle of the loading port may be adjusted to obtain a flame of desired size and shape.

In the circular version of the burner screws 9 in the base of the cup-like member 8 may be adjusted to vary the size of the primary airintake. This acts to control 4 the degree of mixing of gas and air and combustion of the gas at the loading port. The bolts 20 disposed in the slots 19 may be adjusted to vary the cross sectional area of the loading port.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

I claim:

1. A gas burner, comprising a generally straight gas supply manifold having a plurality of rows of spaced gas discharge orifices disposed in the upper surface thereof, a discharge nozzle disposed in each orifice and projecting a distance above said manifold, means for supplying gas to said manifold, a mixing member having an open top and bottom and having a plurality of mixing chambers communicating therewith, a corrugated member disposed in each of said chambers and defining in combination with said mixing member a plurality of axially spaced vertical passages communicating with the open top and bottom of said mixing member, means for locating each of said passages substantially in vertical alignment with a discharge nozzle, and means for spacing said mixing member above said manifold to provide an air intake therebetween.

2. A gas burner, comprising a gas supply manifold having a gas inlet and a series of spaced gas discharge orifices in the upper surface thereof, a discharge nozzle disposed in each orifice and projecting above said manifold, means for supplying gas to said manifold, a pair of parallel plates spaced above said manifold and said plates being spaced apart to provide a mixing chamber therebetween disposed in alignment with said discharge nozzles on said manifold, the edges of the plates above the parallel portion thereof being disposed in spaced relation and being curved outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the plates and in the same direction, means for adjusting the spaced relationship of one of the outwardly curved edges with respect to the other outwardly curved edge to control the intensity, shape and direction of the burner flame, and means for maintaining said chamber in alignment with said nozzles.

3. A gas burner comprising an annular gas supply manifold having a gas inlet and having an annular series of spaced gas discharge orifices in the upper surface thereof, a pair of concentric rings spaced radially to provide an annular mixing chamber therebetween and being spaced above the manifold to provide an air intake between the manifold and the rings, the chamber including a corrugated member disposed therein and defining in combination with the rings a series of circumferentially spaced vertical passages, means for locating the vertical passages in alignment with the gas discharge orifices, the inner of the rings having an outwardly flared upper edge and an inwardly flared lower edge, the outer ring having an outwardly flared upper edge disposed in substantially parallel alignment with the flared upper edge of the inner ring to provide the desired angle and direction of the burner flame and having outwardly flared lower edge, means for adjusting the distance between the flared upper edges of the inner and outer concentric rings to vary the intensity, direction and shape of the burner flame, and means for spacing the concentric rings above the manifold.

4. In a gas burner, a gas supply manifold having a gas inlet and having a series of spaced gas discharge orifices in the upper surface thereof, a pair of vertically elongated parallel plates spaced above said manifold, said plates being spaced to provide a mixing chamber therebetween, a corrugated member disposed in said chamber and between the ends thereof, the corrugated member defining in combination with said plates a series of spaced axially elongated gas mixing passages, each of said gas mixing passages being disposed above an individual gas discharge orifice and in generally axial alignment therewith to provide means for eliminating backflash of the burner flame and excessive gas turbulence in the gas mixing passages, and means for locating and maintaining the axially elongated gas mixing passages in generally axial alignment with said gas discharge orifices.

5. A gas burner comprising, an annular gas supply manifold having a gas inlet adapted to be connected to a source of supply, the manifold having an annular series of spaced gas discharge orifices in the upper surface thereof, a pair of axially elongated rings disposed in concentric relation and having elongated parallel portions, the rings being spaced radially apart to provide an annular gas mixing chamber therebetween and located above the manifold and discharge orifices to provide a substantially unobstructed primary air intake between the manifold and the lowermost portions of the elongated rings, means for spacing the rings above the manifold, a corrugated member positioned within the gas mixing chamber and defining in combination with the concentric rings a series of axially elongated gas mixing passages, means for locating each of the gas mixing passages above an individual discharge orifice and in axial alignment therewith to provide means for eliminating baekflash of the burner flame and excessive gas turbulence in the gas mixing passages, and the edges of the rings above the parallel portions thereof and remote from the primary air intake extending in the same direction and being disposed in generally laterally flared relation with respect to the longitudinal axis of the parallel portions of the rings to provide the gas mixture being discharged from the mixing passages at the flared edges and ignited adjacent thereto with a desired discharge angle and direction to promote the efiicient mixing of the gases with secondary air adjacent the flared edges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 745,872 Machlet Dec. 1, 1903 879,556 Lauhon Feb. 18, 1908 1,517,394 Bengston Dec. 2, 1924 1,531,840 Bradshaw Mar. 31, 1925 1,695,548 Hall et al. Dec. 18, 1928 1,805,066 Andrieux May 12, 1931 1,990,736 Kahler Feb. 12, 1935 2,465,155 Higley Mar. 22, 1949 2,559,979 Martois July 10, 1951 OTHER REFERENCES German application N 3,402, July 19, 1956. 

2. A GAS BURNER, COMPRISING A GAS SUPPLY MANIFOLD HAVING A GAS INLET AND A SERIES OF SPACED GAS DISCHARGE ORIFICES IN THE UPPER SURFACE THEREOF, A DISCHARGE NOZZLE DISPOSED IN EACH ORIFICE AND PROJECTING ABOVE SAID MANIFOLD, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING GAS TO SAID MANIFOLD, A PAIR OF PARALLEL PLATES SPACED ABOVE SAID MANIFOLD AND SAID PLATES BEING SPACED APART TO PROVIDE A MIXING CHAMBER THEREBETWEEN DISPOSED IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID DISCHARGE NOZZLES ON SAID MANIFOLD, THE EDGES OF THE PLATES ABOVE THE PARALLEL PORTION THEREOF BEING DISPOSED IN SPACED RELATION AND BEING CURVED OUTWARDLY FORM THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE PLATES AND IN THE SAME DIRECTION, MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE SPACED RELATIONSHIP OF ONE OF THE OUTWARDLY CURVED EDGES WITH RESPECT TO THE OTHER OUTWARDLY CURVED EDGE TO CONTROL THE INTENSITY, SHAPE AND DIRECTION OF THE BURNER FLAME, AND MEANS FOR MAINTAINING SAID CHAMBER IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID NOZZLES. 